Rajput Maharajas : Conference at Library of Congress Oct. 17

[Guest guest]

Asian Division of the Library of Congress

Asian Division Friends Society (ADFS)

Johns Hopkins University

School of Advanced International Studies

 

Present a Conference

 

" RAJPUT MAHARAJAS "

 

Friday October 17, 2008

9:00am-3:00pm

The Montpelier Room, 6th Floor, James Madison Building, Library of

Congress

 

Accompanied by a Book Exhibit

9:00am-3:00pm

Asian Reading Room, LJ-150, Jefferson Building, Library of Congress

 

Organizer and Moderator:

Dr. Kenneth X. Robbins, Member of the Board of Directors, Asian

Division Friends Society

 

Patron and Inaugurator of the Conference

His Highness Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur

 

Book Exhibit Curator:

Dr. Allen Thrasher, Coordinator for the South Asia Team, Asian

Division

 

Co-sponsors:

Rajput Association of North America (RANA)

Joyce and Kenneth X. Robbins

The Tata Group of Companies

Description:

Rajput maharajas have ruled hundreds of places throughout northern

India, not just Rajasthan. The Rathor clan of Rajputs, headed by the

Maharaja of Jodhpur, ruled states in Central India (Alirajpur, Jhabua,

Jobat, Ratlam, Sailana, Sitamau), Eastern States Agency (Seraikela),

Rajasthan (Bikaner, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, Kushalgarh), and Western India

(Idar, Malpur). The speakers include the son and grand-daughter of the

Maharaja of Dhrangadhra, who heads the Jhala clan of Rajputs. Jhalas

ruled states in Western India (Chuda, Halvad- Dhrangadhra, Limbdi,

Laktar, Limbdi, Sayla, Wadhwan,and Wankaner) and in Rajasthan (Jhalawar)

and were also in Central India.

 

The program includes talks dealing with Maharaja Gaj Singh II and

Maharaja Ganga Singh, two of the greatest Rajputs of the 20th century.

The conference will reveal why the romantic image of the Rajputs seduced

both the tourists of today and a British political agent almost 200

years ago. The current controversy over a Bollywood film about a Rajput

princess will be addressed.

 

 

PROGRAM

9:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Registration

 

9:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Welcoming Remarks

Dr. Mi Chu, Acting Chief, Asian Division

Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur

Dr. Kenneth X. Robbins, Member of the Board of Directors, Asian

Division Friends Society

Janaksinh Jadeja, President, Rajput Association of North America

(RANA)

 

10:00 a.m.-10:35 a.m.

“Maharaja Ganga Singh and the Making of Modern Bikaner and the

Worldâ€

Kenneth X. Robbins

Member, Board of Directors, Asian Division Friends Society of the

Library of Congress

 

10:35 a.m.-11:10 a.m.

“Names and Titles in Story and Image: Making Majesty and Divinity in

the popular imaginationâ€

Jayasinhji Jhala, Professor of Anthropology

Temple University

 

11:10 a.m.-11:45 a.m.

“The prince’s education: sovereignty, imperialism and nationalism

in royal Indiaâ€

Angma Jhala, Professor of History

Bentley College

 

11:45 a.m.-12:10 p.m. Questions and Answers

 

12:10 p.m.-1:10 p.m. Lunch Break

 

1:10 p.m.-1:45 p.m.

“Forts, Palaces and Museums: Tourism in Rajasthanâ€

Barbara Ramusack, Professor of History

University of Cincinnati

 

1:45 p.m.-2:20 p.m.

“Colonel Tod and Rajasthanâ€

John McLeod, Professor of History

University of Louisville

 

2:20 p.m.-2:55 p.m.

“The film Jodhaa Akbar and the real story of Jodha (Jodh Bai), the

Mughal queen from Jodhpurâ€

Frances Taft

President, Rajasthan Studies Group

 

2:55 p.m.-3:15 p.m. Questions and Answers

 

3:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Conclusion and Closing Remarks

 

3:30 p.m. Tour of Garden & Cosmos: The Royal Paintings of Jodhpur, at

the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, led by curator Debra Diamond

(1050 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC. Metro stop: Smithsonian on

the Blue/Orange Line)